Success at club level has been limited. He was sacked after one season at Lokomotiv Moscow and failed to win a trophy in two years at Turkish side Besiktas, the club he left last month after finishing third in their domestic league.

Bilic, a West Ham defender for 18 months from 1996, will know what the club expects.

Despite making just 55 appearances for the club, he is a Hammers cult hero, loved by the fans for his no-nonsense defending and big personality.

"Slaven has already spoken about this being a cult club," Dean Ashton, who played for West Ham between 2006 and 2009, told BBC Radio 5 live.

"He understands they will want a certain style of play and be entertained, but that is easier said than done. There will be a lot of work to do."

Bilic may not have delivered trophies at Besiktas, but he was praised by fans for the brand of football they played.

"In one of his first interviews in Turkey, Bilic said 'my team is as energetic as Iron Maiden'," added Yavuz. "He really delivered in that regard.

"With a 4-2-3-1 formation, he built a team with two dynamic defensive midfielders, one creative playmaker and wingers able to cut inside. Last season especially, Demba Ba showed that he was the missing piece of that formation with his ability to encourage midfielders to attack.

"In two years Besiktas transformed to an energetic, collective and fast team, playing with short passes."

Slaven Bilic, a guitarist in a rock band, promised Besiktas fans the team would be as energetic as Iron Maiden

As a player, Bilic went against the grain. He smoked, enjoyed a glass of wine and played guitar in a rock band, but despite that rebellious image he was also a great thinker, studying for a law degree in case a career in football did not work out and becoming fluent in several languages.

Those qualities helped him develop into a boss who, according to Lampard, excels at man-management, as well as being a master of mind games.

"Whenever I see Slaven speak, he talks about his close relationship with his players - as if they are family and that's very important for the modern-day manager to have that relationship. The players then give you that bit extra," said Lampard in 2009.

"He's very intelligent. He is always thinking one step ahead and thinking of any little edge he can get on the other team."

'He gets close to you and helps you along'

Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand looked up to Slaven Bilic when all three were at West Ham in 1996

West Ham want their new manager to be able to help promising players from the club's famed academy to successfully make the transition to the first team.

This, arguably, is his biggest strength.

Lampard, 19 when he and Bilic were at West Ham, fondly remembers his "big personality" and how he took time to get to know the club's youngsters. "Not all players are like that," said Lampard. "To get close to you and help you along."

Lampard's former England team-mate Rio Ferdinand came through the youth ranks at Upton Park, making his senior debut at the age of 17 in the year Bilic arrived at the club.

"He was someone I looked up to as a defender," said Ferdinand at the launch of BT Sport Europe on Tuesday.

"He was a fantastic guy, a great professional. That's what he'll bring to West Ham and he'll put his stamp on the team.